In spite of the current worldwide recessionary doom and gloom, one South Tyneside based company continues to grow and prosper.
Marine Equipment manufacturer Solar Solve Marine, located within the Port of Tyne in South Shields enjoyed an exceptional year in 2008 and the signs are that their outstanding success will continue.
The company produces the marine worlds Brand Leading SOLASOLV® anti glare roller blinds for ships wheelhouse windows to protect personnel and reduce carbon gas emissions.
“It is still early days yet to claim that we have not been affected by the global downturn,” comments Solar Solve’s chairman, John Lightfoot. “But turnover continues to grow and is currently up by 20% for the first 4 months of 2009 compared to last year.”
So far this year over 86% of order values have been for export due in part to the weakness of British currency.
One of the many reasons for such exceptional success has to be the 40 companies in 49 locations around the world that make up the Solar Solve Marine World Wide Distributorship Network, many of whom have been in the network for more than 10 years.
The chairman continues, “Over 60% of turnover comes from our distributor network, which is an important and significant amount of business that brings stability to our organisation.”
“Since 1987 orders have been dispatched to 80 countries on all 7 continents making Solar Solve Marine a truly international organisation which in times such as these helps the company to survive. Ten new export countries have been added to the list in the last 2 years.”
“Solar Solve Marine is a winning business located in the thriving Port of Tyne and we are real evidence that there is still work to be had for companies that are prepared to put in the effort to get everything right. It’s not Rocket Science, it’s about application, dedication and attitude.”
With his final comment John Lightfoot claimed, “For a principal manufacturer to locate 40 like minded partners around the world, that they can work with as a team, has taken 20 years and lots of hard-headed as well as many emotional decisions but the phenomenal success of the company in difficult times, is absolute proof that our philosophy is right.”
Top Image – Julie Lightfoot and Carl Johnson visit Hans and Ronald Scheffer on the Temaro BV stand at the Europort Exhibition in Rotterdam. They have been distributors of SOLASOLV® products since 1992.
Below Image – Chairman H R Zong, founder of Samgong Co. Ltd with Julie Lightfoot and John Lightfoot outside the main office in Korea. They have been distributors of SOLASOLV® products since 1992.
